Grit schedule to go online

DRIVERS will be able to find out when Scotland’s major roads are being gritted and ploughed this winter, transport minister Keith Brown told MSPs yesterday.

There are also plans for weather forecasts for individual routes to help motorists plan their journeys if there is another big freeze.

The information will be displayed on the official trafficscotland.org website, which covers trunk roads such as the M8, and the A9 to the Highlands.

Mr Brown told Holyrood’s infrastructure committee it was crucial that information provided to drivers about road conditions was up-to-date and accurate, which was difficult because weather conditions often changed rapidly.

He said salt stocks totalled more than all that was used last year, while chemicals available for ice clearance below -7C may also be used on pavements.